On a gray and foggy morning, tears intermingled with rain as family members braved the elements to say goodbye to the 170 crewmembers of Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf (WMSL-750), a 418-foot national security cutter, which departed Alameda, California, Sunday for a patrol in the Western Pacific Ocean. <\/p>\n
The U.S. Coast Guard has an enduring role in the Indo-Pacific going back over 150 years. The service\u2019s ongoing deployment of resources to the region directly supports U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives in the Indo-Pacific Strategy and the National Security Strategy. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe United States is a Pacific nation,\u201d said Vice Adm. Linda Fagan, commander Coast Guard Pacific Area, who was present to see the cutter depart. \u201cWe have deep and long-standing ties with our partners in the region, and more importantly, we share a strong commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, governed by a rules-based international system that promotes peace, security, prosperity and sovereignty of all nations.\u201d <\/p>\n
Bertholf will be operating in support of United States Indo-Pacific Command, which oversees military operations in the region. As part of its planned operations, the cutter will engage in professional exchanges and capacity building with partner nations. <\/p>\n
\u201cSecurity abroad equals security at home,\u201d said Fagan. \u201cEnhancing our partners\u2019 capabilities is a force multiplier in combating transnational criminal and terrorist organizations and deterring our adversaries.\u201d <\/p>\n
As both a federal law enforcement agency and an armed force, the Coast Guard is uniquely positioned to conduct defense operations in support of Combatant Commanders on all seven continents. The service routinely provides forces in joint military operations worldwide, including the deployment of cutters, boats, aircraft and deployable specialized forces.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m excited to see Bertholf sail today to the Indo-Pacific region of operations,\u201d said Fagan, who described the cutter as one of the most capable in the Coast Guard fleet. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey will be serving alongside other DoD military forces, particularly the U.S. Navy, and I know they will contribute key capabilities to that mission set. This crew has worked incredibly hard to get ready for today\u2019s sailing, and I can\u2019t think of a better ship and crew to be sending to the Indo-Pacific.\u201d<\/p>\n
Commissioned in 2008, Bertholf is the first of the Coast Guard\u2019s legend class national security cutters. These advanced ships are 418-feet long, 54-feet wide, and have a 4,600 long-ton displacement. They have a top speed in excess of 28 knots, a range of 12,000 nautical miles, endurance of up to 90 days and can hold a crew of up to 170.<\/p>\n
The cutter is named for Coast Guard legend Ellsworth P. Bertholf, who served as captain of the Revenue Cutter Bear during the famous Overland Relief Expedition, earning the Congressional Gold Medal. As the Coast Guard\u2019s fourth commandant, Bertholf oversaw the transfer of the Coast Guard into the Department of the Navy during World War I and advocated for the successful postwar reconstitution of the service.<\/p>\n
National security cutters feature advanced command and control capabilities, aviation support facilities, stern cutter boat launch and increased endurance for long-range patrols to disrupt threats to national security further offshore.<\/p>\n
The Coast Guard is scheduled to commission its seventh national security cutter, the Coast Guard Cutter Kimball, in 2019. Kimball, along with the Midgett, which is currently under construction, will be homeported in Honolulu and will enhance the Coast Guard\u2019s presence throughout the Indo-Pacific. <\/p>\n
“The U.S. Coast Guard’s unique authorities, capabilities, and missions make us the maritime safety and security partner of choice for sea-going countries around the world,\u201d said Capt. John Driscoll, Bertholf\u2019s commanding officer. \u201cOur increased presence throughout the Indo-Pacific will enhance regional stability and improve maritime governance and security.\u201d <\/p>\n
In an address to the families and crew before the cutter set sail, Driscoll emphasized how critical family support is to crew wellbeing and readiness.<\/p>\n
\u201cSupport from our families, wherever they live, is vital to ensuring we are ready to sail and answer the demands of our nation,\u201d Driscoll said. \u201cWe must ensure our families are ready to weather the storm at home. We operate in a dangerous and high-consequence environment, and your ability to focus on mission can become easily compromised if you are worried about family.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fagan acknowledged the current lapse in appropriations and government shutdown has added stress and feelings of uncertainty to the typical emotions that surround a cutter departure. <\/p>\n
\u201cI know it is hard for these crews to be leaving behind their dependents and spouses \u2013 it\u2019s a thousand times more so when everyone is wondering when our next paycheck will be, and how they can support the family they are leaving behind,\u201d Fagan said. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere has been an incredible outpouring of support for the families here in the Alameda area, but the tension and the anxiety for the crew is real,” said Fagan. “We are standing by to help support those families who are left behind the same way that we are going to support the crew as they sail for the Western Pacific.\u201d (PR)<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" On a gray and foggy morning, tears intermingled with rain as family members braved the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[3605],"class_list":["post-292235","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-local-news","tag-western-pacific"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/292235","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/28"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=292235"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/292235\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=292235"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=292235"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=292235"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}